A Look at Florida’s Medical Marijuana Law

Florida voters legalized medical marijuana through the initiative process in 2016, but the the law has grown complicated with state officials having already made numerous changes to it prior to taking effect.

Florida law defines medical marijuana as “all parts of any plant of the genus Cannabis, whether growing or not; the seeds thereof; the resin extracted from any part of the plant; and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of the plant or its seeds or resin, including low-THC cannabis, which are dispensed from a medical marijuana treatment center for medical use by a qualified patient.” In Florida, medical marijuana is distinct from low-THC cannabis in that it can contains higher levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

Under the state’s law, a qualified physician may only order medical marijuana for a patient with a qualifying condition that is diagnosed by the patient’s physician. Qualifying conditions include:

Cancer

Epilepsy

Glaucoma

HIV

AIDS

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

Crohn’s disease

Parkinson’s disease

Multiple sclerosis (MS)

Medical conditions of the same kind or class as or comparable to those above

A terminal condition diagnosed by a physician other than the qualified physician issuing the physician certification

Chronic nonmalignant pain caused by a qualifying medical condition or that originates from a qualifying medical condition and persists beyond the usual course of that qualifying medical condition

The medical use of medical marijuana does NOT include the following:

The possession, use or administration of medical marijuana by smoking.

The transfer of medical marijuana to a person other than the qualified patient for whom it was ordered or their legal representative.

The use or administration of medical marijuana on any form of public transportation, in any public place, in a qualified patient’s place of employment, if restricted by his or her employer, in a state correctional institution, on the grounds of a preschool, primary school, or secondary school or any school bus or vehicle.

The state’s law does allow medical marijuana dispensaries, termed as “treatment centers”. For a list of dispensaries in the state, you can visit the Florida Department of Health’s website by clicking here. Looking for Jacksonville medical marijuana doctors? Visit the follow link: https://www.thefloridahealingconnection.com/jacksonville-marijuana-doctors